Новости за 07.02.2022

It didn't take long for the Internal Revenue Service to respond to pressure to drop facial recognition. The agency has told Senator Ron Wyden it plans to back away from using facial recognition for verification purposes. Wyden cautioned the transition would "take time," but he saw this as evidence the Biden administration knew privacy and security weren't "mutually exclusive" concepts. The New York Timesunderstood the shift would take place over weeks to minimize disruptions to tax filing season. Читать дальше...

Hulu has dropped the first trailer for The Dropout, a miniseries about the failed blood-testing startup Theranos. Amanda Seyfried stars as its embattled former CEO, Elizabeth Holmes. The two-and-a-half-minute preview shows Holmes dropping out of Stanford to found Theranos. It includes snippets of the company's high points (it raised more than $700 million in investments) and hints at its very public demise, as well as Holmes developing her infamously deep voice.

Winter is a great time to catch up on your video game “pile of shame,” which makes Amazon’s latest deal either well- or poorly-timed depending on how you feel about having even more games to play. Right now it’s buy two, get one free on select books, movies and game titles, and there’s some good stuff to grab while supplies last.

Despite Google being on the twelfth generation of its ubiquitous mobile OS, recently it’s felt like Android has left tablets behind. Hell, even Google gave up making its own tablets years ago, while some other device makers began favoring Chrome OS over Android on larger gaadgets. But with Android 12L, Google is trying to address some of the OS’s shortcomings while also paving the way for emerging types of gadgets like foldables.

It's not just Republican senators upset over the Internal Revenue Service's plans to adopt ID.me facial recognition. Democratic House Representatives Ted Lieu, Anna Eshoo, Pramila Jayapal and Yvette Clarke have sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig demanding his agency drop plans to use facial recognition starting this summer. They're concerned the plan will compromise privacy and security by forcing uploads of sensitive data to a database that could be a "prime target" for cyberattacks... Читать дальше...

Sony might not have locked down PlayStation VR2 specifications despite providing some details at CES 2022. Tobii says it's in talks to provide eye tracking technology for the next-gen VR headset. It noted the discussions were "ongoing" and that it couldn't share the potential financial impact of the deal. The firm is required to divulge the negotiations to honor EU market regulations.

The Mac Mini was already the most cost-effective way to get an M1 machine, but Amazon's latest sale makes it even more affordable. The 256GB desktop is back down to a record low of $570 right now thanks to a $649 sale price and an automatically applied coupon that knocks another $79 off. If you know you'll need more onboard storage, the 512GB version is down to $750 thanks to another sale-plus-coupon combo.

There's another apology emerging from Spotify's Joe Rogan uproar, but it's probably not the one you were looking for. According to Recode's Peter Kafka, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has apologized to staff for the backlash they've endured over the Rogan issue, noting in company email he was "deeply sorry" for how the situation has affected employees who've felt "drained, frustrated and unheard." Ek stressed that he "strongly condemn[ed]" what Rogan said, and noted the podcast star removed episodes with racist language after talking to Spotify. Читать дальше...

The high-end fashion world has been trying to embrace smartwatches for years. But apart from Fossil, luxury houses (and most tech companies) have given up on Google’s Wear OS. Gone are the Movado Connect smartwatch, the LG Watch Style and the Moto 360. In their place sit a slew of smartwatches made by Fossil, that are basically the same device in various styles. It’s not surprising, then, that for its third effort at a connected timepiece, Louis Vuitton is leaving Google’s OS behind and using its own proprietary software instead. Читать дальше...

If you're in need of more storage for your smartphone, tablet or console, Amazon's latest daily deal on PNY gadgets could help. A bunch of the brand's thumb drives, memory cards and SSDs are up to 31 percent off for today only, and the highlights include the 4TB PNY XLR8 CS3140 SSD for $600, or a whopping $300 off, and the 512GB PNY Pro Elite Class microSD card for $55, or $35 less than usual.

With crazy fast M1 Pro and Max chips and numerous small improvements, the new MacBook Pros were among the best laptops we saw in 2021. The downside to that is that deals have been hard to find, but luckily, the 14-inch model just fell to a new all-time low at Amazon. You can pick up the base 512GB M1 Pro 16-core version in Space Gray for $1,750 (via a $200 instant rebate) or $250 off the original $1,999 price tag. 

Later this week, Samsung’s big smartphone showcase will likely reveal the next iteration of its flagship Galaxy S line, almost definitely called the Galaxy S22. Shocking, I know. Judging from the leaks and rumors, what’s notable is this could mark the year Samsung’s Galaxy Note and S phone lines become one big happy family. Ahead of the event announcement, company president TM Roh teased it would feature “the most noteworthy S series device we’ve ever created.” See what they did there?

With good sound quality, customizable ANC and moisture protection for sweaty workout sessions, Jabra's Elite 4 Active wireless earbuds are already a pretty good deal at $120. If you've been holding out for a discount, however, Amazon has the first one we've seen on this model — they're now available for $102.92 or 14 percent off the retail price. 

Sweden-based price comparison service PriceRunner has announced that it's suing Google for €2.1 billion ($2.4 billion) after a European court ruled that Google breached EU antitrust laws. Last November, the European Union's General Court upheld a decision to fine Google a record €2.42 billion (US$2.8 billion) for favoring its own comparison shopping services over rivals. 

Outfitting your home with a security system can be costly and complicated. But there are more affordable ways to do so now, with Blink devices being some of the most accessible available. They're wireless, easy to install and require no monthly subscription fee (although there is one you can pay for). You can get some of the latest Blink cameras for less right now thanks to Amazon's sale that knocks up to 30 percent off the gadgets. The Blink Outdoor one-camera kit is down to $70 and the Blink Mini indoor cam is on sale for $25... Читать дальше...

When Samsung announces its 2022 Galaxy S lineup on February 9th, the phones it reveals will be partly made from a new, more sustainable material. On Sunday, the company said it has started using ocean-bound plastic made from discarded fishing nets in its latest devices. Samsung said it would incorporate the material first into the products it announces next week before it eventually begins utilizing it throughout its entire device lineup.

The price of removing Chinese equipment from American wireless networks is likely to cost more than the government had anticipated. According to Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, US carriers have requested approximately $5.6 billion in reimbursements to “rip and replace” their existing Huawei and ZTE infrastructure.